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The Guilty One
Librarian note: an alternate cover for this edition can be found here.
A little boy was found dead in a children's playground...Daniel Hunter has spent years defending lost causes as a solicitor in London. But his life changes when he is introduced to Sebastian, an eleven-year-old accused of murdering an innocent young boy. As he plunges into the muddy depths of Sebastian's troubled home life, Daniel thinks back to his own childhood in foster care - and to Minnie, the woman who adopted him and whose love saved him, until she, too, betrayed him so badly that he cut her out of his life. But what crime did Minnie commit that made Daniel disregard her for 15 years? And will Daniel's identification with a child on trial for murder make him question everything he ever believed in?
A little boy was found dead in a children's playground...Daniel Hunter has spent years defending lost causes as a solicitor in London. But his life changes when he is introduced to Sebastian, an eleven-year-old accused of murdering an innocent young boy. As he plunges into the muddy depths of Sebastian's troubled home life, Daniel thinks back to his own childhood in foster care - and to Minnie, the woman who adopted him and whose love saved him, until she, too, betrayed him so badly that he cut her out of his life. But what crime did Minnie commit that made Daniel disregard her for 15 years? And will Daniel's identification with a child on trial for murder make him question everything he ever believed in?
481 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
1728 people are currently reading
7677 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Ballantyne
9 books252 followersLisa Ballantyne was born in Armadale, West Lothian, Scotland and studied English literature at University of St Andrews. She lived and worked in China for many years and started writing seriously while she was there. She now lives in Glasgow.
The Guilty One published to critical and commercial acclaim in 2012. Redemption Road is Lisa's second novel.
The Guilty One published to critical and commercial acclaim in 2012. Redemption Road is Lisa's second novel.
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October 16, 2024
In London’s very gentrified neighborhood of Islington an eight-year-old boy is murdered in a playground. The suspect is slight, eleven-year-old, Sebastian Croll, a friend of the victim. Seb is an odd sort, removed, serene in the presence of danger and pressure, until, that is, he breaks down and tosses tantrums that any three-year-old would find to be fine examples of the art. His home life leaves much to be desired, with a dodgy, self-medicating mom and an abusive, remote father. Is young Seb a sociopathic monster, someone spotted in the wrong place at the wrong time, or even a victim?
Lisa Ballantyne - from the Daily Record
Daniel Hunter is Sebastian’s lawyer. He sees much of himself in his young client, knows how possible it is for children to be ill-treated by the world and by government, and wants to help him. Daniel had had plenty of trouble of his own as a kid. He never knew his father. Mom was a drug addict, and social services shuttled him from foster home to foster home. Daniel had some rage issues that kept the loco in loco parentis. Daniel’s final stop on the substitute parent merry-go-round was Minnie Flynn. It is the relationship between Daniel and Minnie that is the core element here. And what a core it is.
Structurally the novel alternates chapters between the mystery of Sebastian’s did-he-or-didn’t-he and a journey back through Daniel’s personal history. While both tales are fascinating, Daniel’s tale is riveting. We know early on that, as an adult, he has received news of his mother’s death, and we also are told that he had been estranged from her for a very long time. The second mystery in the book is “why?”
Minnie Flynn had suffered a loss that most of us could not bear. Maybe she shared life on her small Cumbrian farm with a series of foster kids to fill that need. But she took a special shine to young Daniel, and, despite the mayhem he causes when he comes under her care, he takes a shining to her. Although there is no romance involved, this is a very, very powerful love story. You will need tissues. Daniel was a lot to handle as a kid. Living with a junkie for a mother he was subjected to more than the usual sorts of childhood challenges. Most five-year-olds are not beaten up by their mother’s low-life boyfriend, or bear witness to low behavior of many sorts. No wonder he was so angry. And then the state decides that his mother is not fit to keep her son and Daniel begins the grand tour of foster homes. It would have taken someone with the patience of a saint to cope with his rage. And while Minnie does indeed have a breaking point, it is she, ultimately, who offers Daniel a safe haven, not only from the world, but from himself. She is one of those parental sorts who actually can set boundaries. She is one who can see the potential in Daniel beneath the maelstrom. And it is she who changes the direction of his life.
I was struck by how similar was the feeling I had for Minnie to the feeling engendered in reading about Talmadge in the recently released fabulous novel, The Orchardist. Both are strong, good people, struggling desperately to make sense of lives in which they have suffered crushing misfortune. As with Talmadge, you will love Minnie. Ballantyne paints her with a range of colors, not all of which are complimentary, but every one of which is understandable, and very human.
Ballantyne applies the same skill she uses in portraying the loving Minnie to give us the willies about Sebastian. He may or may not be guilty, but he certainly seems the sort of kid you would be reluctant to turn your back on. Other characters pop in and out, but it is Sebastian, Minnie and Daniel who hold our attention.
Ballantyne makes deft use of avian imagery to support her characterizations and themes. A few examples. First, soon after young Daniel is taken in by Minnie:
Another element the book addresses is the British legal system, that treats children as adults, much the same as in the US, so that should feel familiar for American readers.
There is also much here on the notion of home. Young Daniel, effectively, if not entirely an orphan, yearns for a real, safe home, with a real, safe mam. But what might one expect had he had the home he yearned for with his biological mother? Seb has a home, but it is a toxic environment that has either made or enhanced his peculiarities. Might Daniel have become like Seb under different circumstances? How much is innate, and how much is induced? Nature vs nurture. And what is home for Minnie? Why would she remain in a place that witnessed her greatest loss when she could easily have returned to her native Ireland?
The bottom line here is that The Guilty One is an outstanding novel, a true page-turner that will keep you rapt until you finish it. There is artistry to the writing and content to consider beyond the tale itself. But the strength here is the portrayal of compelling characters, and effective writing of powerful human emotion. Quite an amazing first novel. Your eyes will leak. Reading The Guilty One is not at all a guilty pleasure, but a pure one.
==================================UPDATES
3/7/2013 - There is a lovely description by the author of how she constructed the book. It includes the following
5/11/13 - From The York Press - Longlist announced for the 2013 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
Lisa Ballantyne - from the Daily Record
Daniel Hunter is Sebastian’s lawyer. He sees much of himself in his young client, knows how possible it is for children to be ill-treated by the world and by government, and wants to help him. Daniel had had plenty of trouble of his own as a kid. He never knew his father. Mom was a drug addict, and social services shuttled him from foster home to foster home. Daniel had some rage issues that kept the loco in loco parentis. Daniel’s final stop on the substitute parent merry-go-round was Minnie Flynn. It is the relationship between Daniel and Minnie that is the core element here. And what a core it is.
Structurally the novel alternates chapters between the mystery of Sebastian’s did-he-or-didn’t-he and a journey back through Daniel’s personal history. While both tales are fascinating, Daniel’s tale is riveting. We know early on that, as an adult, he has received news of his mother’s death, and we also are told that he had been estranged from her for a very long time. The second mystery in the book is “why?”
Minnie Flynn had suffered a loss that most of us could not bear. Maybe she shared life on her small Cumbrian farm with a series of foster kids to fill that need. But she took a special shine to young Daniel, and, despite the mayhem he causes when he comes under her care, he takes a shining to her. Although there is no romance involved, this is a very, very powerful love story. You will need tissues. Daniel was a lot to handle as a kid. Living with a junkie for a mother he was subjected to more than the usual sorts of childhood challenges. Most five-year-olds are not beaten up by their mother’s low-life boyfriend, or bear witness to low behavior of many sorts. No wonder he was so angry. And then the state decides that his mother is not fit to keep her son and Daniel begins the grand tour of foster homes. It would have taken someone with the patience of a saint to cope with his rage. And while Minnie does indeed have a breaking point, it is she, ultimately, who offers Daniel a safe haven, not only from the world, but from himself. She is one of those parental sorts who actually can set boundaries. She is one who can see the potential in Daniel beneath the maelstrom. And it is she who changes the direction of his life.
I was struck by how similar was the feeling I had for Minnie to the feeling engendered in reading about Talmadge in the recently released fabulous novel, The Orchardist. Both are strong, good people, struggling desperately to make sense of lives in which they have suffered crushing misfortune. As with Talmadge, you will love Minnie. Ballantyne paints her with a range of colors, not all of which are complimentary, but every one of which is understandable, and very human.
Ballantyne applies the same skill she uses in portraying the loving Minnie to give us the willies about Sebastian. He may or may not be guilty, but he certainly seems the sort of kid you would be reluctant to turn your back on. Other characters pop in and out, but it is Sebastian, Minnie and Daniel who hold our attention.
Ballantyne makes deft use of avian imagery to support her characterizations and themes. A few examples. First, soon after young Daniel is taken in by Minnie:
“Look!” she said to him, stopping and pointing at the sky. “do you see it?”Later he has taken in the image, made it his own:
“What?”
“A kestrel! See it, with the pointed wings and long tail?”
The bird sculpted a wide arc in the sky and then perched on a high treetop. Daniel saw it, and raised his hand to see more clearly.
“They’re beauties. We have to watch them from getting the chickens when they’re small, but I think they’re elegant, don’t you?”
He felt strange: bereft, alone, cruel—like a falcon he had seen on his way to school one day, intent on a post, dismembering a field mouse. He didn’t know where his mother was. It felt as if she had been stolen.And as he feels the claws of his own guilt:
he felt darkness circling around him and alighting on his chest, hooded, wicked, shining black like a raven. Daniel put a palm to his bare chest, as if to relieve the sting of the claws. He had left her, yet her leaving still seemed the greater. As he turned and turned again he felt the death beyond the loss that he had created. Her death was heavier, dark, like a bird of prey against the night sky.A visit to Hadrian’s Wall sings as an image of permanence. There are several mentions of sliced flesh that might raise hackles. And you might keep an eye out for the butterflies that flutter across the page on occasion. Ballantyne does not beat her imagery to death, but sprinkles it throughout her tale to add flavor, like a well moderated condiment.
Another element the book addresses is the British legal system, that treats children as adults, much the same as in the US, so that should feel familiar for American readers.
There is also much here on the notion of home. Young Daniel, effectively, if not entirely an orphan, yearns for a real, safe home, with a real, safe mam. But what might one expect had he had the home he yearned for with his biological mother? Seb has a home, but it is a toxic environment that has either made or enhanced his peculiarities. Might Daniel have become like Seb under different circumstances? How much is innate, and how much is induced? Nature vs nurture. And what is home for Minnie? Why would she remain in a place that witnessed her greatest loss when she could easily have returned to her native Ireland?
The bottom line here is that The Guilty One is an outstanding novel, a true page-turner that will keep you rapt until you finish it. There is artistry to the writing and content to consider beyond the tale itself. But the strength here is the portrayal of compelling characters, and effective writing of powerful human emotion. Quite an amazing first novel. Your eyes will leak. Reading The Guilty One is not at all a guilty pleasure, but a pure one.
==================================UPDATES
3/7/2013 - There is a lovely description by the author of how she constructed the book. It includes the following
This book is very much Daniel’s story – of being a young, damaged and violent child, but someone who grew to become a largely functional, caring adult. Sebastian, the young boy on trial in the book, is there to throw Daniel’s story into relief.A very warm interview with the author, from Scotsman.com. Not a bit of haggis in sight.
5/11/13 - From The York Press - Longlist announced for the 2013 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award
May 16, 2013
So, a bad and boring book? No big deal, right, there's plenty of them. But what annoyed me greatly was that the book seems like it is going to be interesting, a look at damaged children, damaged relationships, and how people recover. Told in alternating chapters, one dealing with a defense lawyer for a young murder suspect - 11 years old - in the present day, the other reminiscing about his own troubled life at 11, for a long time the story seems like it is going somewhere. Then, you start to notice, midway, uhoh, seems to be a little ... slow. By now, shouldn't we have some emotional investment? But we don't. And the reason, is that the book is not actually deep or insightful. She had a good idea about a book that COULD be deep and insightful - sadly, that is not the book she wrote in the end. The betrayals, reversals, twists - all shallow and clunky. Believe me, if you didn't see them coming, it was only because you were far too bored to care. Silly silly book masquerading as something psychologically complex and astute.
The worst part? There is actually a reader's guide!!!! I admit, it fooled me - I thought "oh, a reader's guide, yes, it seems like a boring book, but it certainly will get better - it has a reader's guide". Ok, that's my bad. But I learned my lesson - never again will I be fooled by a publisher like that!
The writing itself is ok, but there really isn't any depth to the story - she should have worked on plot and character development longer, and maybe she could have written a decent novel.
The worst part? There is actually a reader's guide!!!! I admit, it fooled me - I thought "oh, a reader's guide, yes, it seems like a boring book, but it certainly will get better - it has a reader's guide". Ok, that's my bad. But I learned my lesson - never again will I be fooled by a publisher like that!
The writing itself is ok, but there really isn't any depth to the story - she should have worked on plot and character development longer, and maybe she could have written a decent novel.
April 29, 2020
Wow, what a book! It gripped me from the first page when Daniel goes to the police station to meet Sebastian, the eleven year old boy accused of murdering another child. It's the story of Daniel, a lawyer who defends juveniles, and how something in Sebastian reminds him of himself as a boy in foster care. The book carefully and skillful runs on two parallels, showing us the present day with the case and trial with Sebastian, and Daniel's experiences as a boy from when he is placed in the care of Minnie, the woman who changed his life but then betrayed him.
May 24, 2015
Thanks to Will Byrnes, and my other GR friends, who all rated this 5 stars. It reminded me of The Boy Who Could See Demons, but was significantly better. 11-year old Sebastian is arrested for the killing of 8-year old Ben on a playground, but there are no witnesses. Solicitor Daniel Hunter is assigned to defend him, and feels strong empathy with the accused, who likewise harkens from a broken family. Daniel's own story is probably more interesting than the trial as he was a difficult boy, prone to trouble, with a drug addict mother. Daniel's foster, and then adoptive, mother Minnie is a wonderful iconic character, and the book is built up around their bonding and life together, where Minnie rescues Daniel, and their sudden and mysterious estrangement. Highly recommended.
August 20, 2025
It's difficult to label this story.
We have a little monster, a grown-up moron, a story which could end only one-way, so nothing special. But we have Minnie too, one of the most fabulous characters I've met in recent years. So those who gave 5 stars are probably too exalted, but those who gave a single one surely lack any form of empathy...
We have a little monster, a grown-up moron, a story which could end only one-way, so nothing special. But we have Minnie too, one of the most fabulous characters I've met in recent years. So those who gave 5 stars are probably too exalted, but those who gave a single one surely lack any form of empathy...
July 23, 2022
Lisa Ballantyne is becoming one of my go to authors when I am looking for my next read. This is another excellent read and a very enjoyable legal thriller that I couldn’t put down,
A little boy is found dead in a children’s playground and his eleven year old friend, Sebastian stands accused.
Solicitor Daniel Hunter life changes when he meets Sebastian, a young boy whose trouble home life reminds him of his own childhood in foster care. Daniel had a similar troubled past only to be saved by a woman named Minnie who he feels later betrayed him so he cut her out of his life. Daniel and Sebastian’s meeting sparks the beginning of the solicitor searching his mind into his past.
What crime did Minnie commit that made Daniel disregard her for fifteen years? And will Daniel’s identification with a child on trial for murder make him question everything he ever believed in?
The story is told over two timelines, past and present. Daniel is forced to face his past but will his feelings for Sebastian and his own memories blind him to the truth? What really happened in the park and who, ultimately, is to blame for a little boy’s death? Daniel is forced to rethink everything he ever believed as he begins to understand what it means to be wrong and to be the guilty one.
Loved this book and writing the review makes me feel like rereading it. ‘The Guilty One’ is one of those books that stays with you after you have finished it.
A little boy is found dead in a children’s playground and his eleven year old friend, Sebastian stands accused.
Solicitor Daniel Hunter life changes when he meets Sebastian, a young boy whose trouble home life reminds him of his own childhood in foster care. Daniel had a similar troubled past only to be saved by a woman named Minnie who he feels later betrayed him so he cut her out of his life. Daniel and Sebastian’s meeting sparks the beginning of the solicitor searching his mind into his past.
What crime did Minnie commit that made Daniel disregard her for fifteen years? And will Daniel’s identification with a child on trial for murder make him question everything he ever believed in?
The story is told over two timelines, past and present. Daniel is forced to face his past but will his feelings for Sebastian and his own memories blind him to the truth? What really happened in the park and who, ultimately, is to blame for a little boy’s death? Daniel is forced to rethink everything he ever believed as he begins to understand what it means to be wrong and to be the guilty one.
Loved this book and writing the review makes me feel like rereading it. ‘The Guilty One’ is one of those books that stays with you after you have finished it.
January 13, 2025
3/ 2025
CULPABLE
Librazo 😍😍 Qué ganas tenía de volver a encontrarme con un libro que me acosara en mis pensamientos cada vez que dejaba de leerlo, que me hiciera volver a él una y otra vez por pura adicción...
Os cuento el punto de partida: niño de ocho años es acusado del asesinato de otro crío.
Pero el protagonista de nuestra historia no es el chavalín, sino su abogado defensor, cuyo pasado se nos irá desvelando en flashbacks mientras se sucede la investigación y juicio de su defendido.
Es un thriller original, bien construido y mejor escrito (la labor de traducción es impecable), con una historia intrigante pero honesta y con una gran carga emotiva que me ha hecho llorar varias veces.
Como lectora, estoy encantadísima, pues es del tipo de libros que me gusta leer. Como escritora, pues lo he leído con una mezcla de envidia (también es el libro que me gustaría escribir) y de encabronamiento porque la premisa se parece muchísimo a una historia que tenía proyectado escribir y , aunque luego se va por otro lado, mi síndrome del impostor ahora me grita que adónde voy yo ahora a escribir lo mío si esto no hay quien lo mejore ☺️.
En fin, que os recomiendo este librazo, y que no comprendo cómo no ha tenido más repercusión cuando le da mil vueltas a libros más populares.
CULPABLE
Librazo 😍😍 Qué ganas tenía de volver a encontrarme con un libro que me acosara en mis pensamientos cada vez que dejaba de leerlo, que me hiciera volver a él una y otra vez por pura adicción...
Os cuento el punto de partida: niño de ocho años es acusado del asesinato de otro crío.
Pero el protagonista de nuestra historia no es el chavalín, sino su abogado defensor, cuyo pasado se nos irá desvelando en flashbacks mientras se sucede la investigación y juicio de su defendido.
Es un thriller original, bien construido y mejor escrito (la labor de traducción es impecable), con una historia intrigante pero honesta y con una gran carga emotiva que me ha hecho llorar varias veces.
Como lectora, estoy encantadísima, pues es del tipo de libros que me gusta leer. Como escritora, pues lo he leído con una mezcla de envidia (también es el libro que me gustaría escribir) y de encabronamiento porque la premisa se parece muchísimo a una historia que tenía proyectado escribir y , aunque luego se va por otro lado, mi síndrome del impostor ahora me grita que adónde voy yo ahora a escribir lo mío si esto no hay quien lo mejore ☺️.
En fin, que os recomiendo este librazo, y que no comprendo cómo no ha tenido más repercusión cuando le da mil vueltas a libros más populares.
April 21, 2014
I found this an engrossing read. It tells the story of a Sebastian, an 11 year old boy up on charges of murdering an 8 year old boy. Daniel, his lawyer, relates to the boy when he takes on the case. So the reader also gets the story of Daniel, his life as a foster child and his time with Minnie the foster mother who later adopted him and from whom he ended up estranged. The reason for this is not explained until fairly late in the book but I didn’t think there was any surprise about it.
As you read this novel it becomes apparent that there is more than one guilty person though they may be carrying different forms of guilt and some are even unaware of their guilt in shaping other lives. I enjoyed this story, but then I usually do like novels about lawyers and court cases. I loved the way it kept filling in the details in Daniel’s story as well. Some aspects are hard to read. The incident with the chicken I found myself skimming because it made me feel ill with the graphic detail.
The ending I found was disappointing, even though in many ways it was what I expected to happen. Perhaps that was why I was disappointed in it. I felt it let down what was otherwise an engrossing read that raises lots of questions about nature and nurture and the responsibilities of parents towards children in their care.
As you read this novel it becomes apparent that there is more than one guilty person though they may be carrying different forms of guilt and some are even unaware of their guilt in shaping other lives. I enjoyed this story, but then I usually do like novels about lawyers and court cases. I loved the way it kept filling in the details in Daniel’s story as well. Some aspects are hard to read. The incident with the chicken I found myself skimming because it made me feel ill with the graphic detail.
The ending I found was disappointing, even though in many ways it was what I expected to happen. Perhaps that was why I was disappointed in it. I felt it let down what was otherwise an engrossing read that raises lots of questions about nature and nurture and the responsibilities of parents towards children in their care.
June 7, 2023
Am avut alte așteptări de la carte, dar m-a surprins plăcut. O combinație între o carte thriller și o poveste de viață. Avocatul Daniel își povestește copilăria deloc fericită odată cu înaintarea cazului în care Sebastian, un băiat de 12 ani, este cercetat pentru că și-ar fi omorât prietenul de 8 ani, lovindu-l în față cu o cărămidă. Copilul îi amintește lui Daniel de propria copilărie.
Daniel a fost adoptat, după ce mama lui, dependentă de droguri, decide că nu îl poate crește. Ajunge mai întâi pe mâinile unui asistent maternal, Minnie, cea care îl învață cu răbdare ce e iubirea. Doar că Minnie îi greșește cu ceva la un moment dat, iar de acolo relația lor este ruptă definitiv de Daniel pe vremea când era încă în facultate. Exact când începe procesul cu Sebastian, Daniel este înștiințat că Minnie a murit.
Cum îl afectează totul pe avocat? Ce face în plan personal? Are sau nu regrete pentru felul în care s-a purtat cu Minnie?
Și mai ales: este sau nu Sebastian vinovat de crimă? 🙂
Daniel a fost adoptat, după ce mama lui, dependentă de droguri, decide că nu îl poate crește. Ajunge mai întâi pe mâinile unui asistent maternal, Minnie, cea care îl învață cu răbdare ce e iubirea. Doar că Minnie îi greșește cu ceva la un moment dat, iar de acolo relația lor este ruptă definitiv de Daniel pe vremea când era încă în facultate. Exact când începe procesul cu Sebastian, Daniel este înștiințat că Minnie a murit.
Cum îl afectează totul pe avocat? Ce face în plan personal? Are sau nu regrete pentru felul în care s-a purtat cu Minnie?
Și mai ales: este sau nu Sebastian vinovat de crimă? 🙂
May 8, 2018
2.5?
Throughout the story, we are introduced to parts of Daniel's childhood. Those memories are triggered by a boy called Sebastian, Daniel's 11 year old client who was arrested because of a murder.
The main female character in those memories was actually one of the best characters I've read about in a long time. I cared about her story and I loved reading about her.
The "mystery" part of the story wasn't exactly well developed. It lacked many things, although I was pleasantly surprised by the statements in the court. At least the author did some research.
So despite the fact that I was touched by Daniel's story and found some parts interesting to read, this book is marketed as a thriller and 80% of the book had no point other than Daniel's character development. Considering what this book is and what it should've been, I cannot give it a higher rating.
Throughout the story, we are introduced to parts of Daniel's childhood. Those memories are triggered by a boy called Sebastian, Daniel's 11 year old client who was arrested because of a murder.
The main female character in those memories was actually one of the best characters I've read about in a long time. I cared about her story and I loved reading about her.
The "mystery" part of the story wasn't exactly well developed. It lacked many things, although I was pleasantly surprised by the statements in the court. At least the author did some research.
So despite the fact that I was touched by Daniel's story and found some parts interesting to read, this book is marketed as a thriller and 80% of the book had no point other than Daniel's character development. Considering what this book is and what it should've been, I cannot give it a higher rating.
September 12, 2014
Daniel swallowed. "If nobody else wants me, do I get to stay here then?"
An easy-reading, yet sometimes poignant, book. I enjoyed the dual storyline, especially the fact that they read as two different genres. I definitely preferred Daniel's coming of age story, I even shed a few tears for this lost little boy. I thought the suspense story was a bit predictable, and was hoping for a more inventive ending.
The story: A little boy was found dead in a children's playground...Daniel Hunter has spent years defending lost causes as a solicitor in London. But his life changes when he is introduced to Sebastian, an eleven-year-old accused of murdering an innocent young boy. As he plunges into the muddy depths of Sebastian's troubled home life, Daniel thinks back to his own childhood in foster care - and to Minnie, the woman whose love saved him, until she, too, betrayed him so badly that he cut her out of his life. But what crime did Minnie commit that made Daniel disregard her for fifteen years? And will Daniel's identification with a child on trial for murder make him question everything he ever believed in?
February 20, 2013
”A little boy was found dead in Barnard Park.
This simple sentence is telling. Daniel, an attorney finds himself the man, the protector, who will defend another little boy, Sebastian Croll who is the accused of the victim’s death. Sebastian is a clever, boy, but not much liked by his peers or their parents who see him as a bully. Daniel
immediately forms a bond with Sebastian. He’s not quite certain why but it may be “there but for the grace of God, goes I”. Daniel’s chance in life came in foster care, from Minnie who took Daniel in as a young boy. After a slow start and many missteps they work out a relationship and Minnie eventually adopts Daniel with his acceptance. He even begins to call her Mam. Then something goes horribly sour. The reader knows Daniel has suffered a huge betrayal by Minnie; you’re just not certain what it is. It’s so bad that Daniel wishes Minnie dead, and will not talk to her in his adult life. He can't forgive her and this makes me wonder if he is as much the guilty one as the boy he is defending.
The story unfolds from here being told in alternative chapters of Daniel’s defense of Sebastian, and his formation during his growing up years with Minnie.
The author states her story is base on The Case of Mary Bell, by Gitta Sereny. I might like to read this also.
A debut this novel explores the innocence vs. evil of children, a subject I'm always interested in reading about. My sincere thanks to William Morrow for providing this in e-galley format for my reading pleasure. Due to be published March 2013.
3.5 if only I could give the extra points.
This simple sentence is telling. Daniel, an attorney finds himself the man, the protector, who will defend another little boy, Sebastian Croll who is the accused of the victim’s death. Sebastian is a clever, boy, but not much liked by his peers or their parents who see him as a bully. Daniel
immediately forms a bond with Sebastian. He’s not quite certain why but it may be “there but for the grace of God, goes I”. Daniel’s chance in life came in foster care, from Minnie who took Daniel in as a young boy. After a slow start and many missteps they work out a relationship and Minnie eventually adopts Daniel with his acceptance. He even begins to call her Mam. Then something goes horribly sour. The reader knows Daniel has suffered a huge betrayal by Minnie; you’re just not certain what it is. It’s so bad that Daniel wishes Minnie dead, and will not talk to her in his adult life. He can't forgive her and this makes me wonder if he is as much the guilty one as the boy he is defending.
The story unfolds from here being told in alternative chapters of Daniel’s defense of Sebastian, and his formation during his growing up years with Minnie.
The author states her story is base on The Case of Mary Bell, by Gitta Sereny. I might like to read this also.
A debut this novel explores the innocence vs. evil of children, a subject I'm always interested in reading about. My sincere thanks to William Morrow for providing this in e-galley format for my reading pleasure. Due to be published March 2013.
3.5 if only I could give the extra points.
January 25, 2021
Fico indecisa entre as 4 e as 4,5*.
Não é pelo final, porque não me surpreendeu, mas porque adorei ler a história da infância de Daniel, estes capítulos alternados entre passado e presente agarram-me e agradam-me imenso.
Gostei mesmo muito e recomendo.
Não é pelo final, porque não me surpreendeu, mas porque adorei ler a história da infância de Daniel, estes capítulos alternados entre passado e presente agarram-me e agradam-me imenso.
Gostei mesmo muito e recomendo.
April 18, 2013
On the surface, this looks like a legal thriller (and a really excellent one). And don't get me wrong, that aspect is definitely there. But it's so much more than that. Alternating with the chapters of the prep work for and trial itself are ones showing how Daniel became who he is now. It's important to know that going in, because if you expect something that's, say, John Grisham, you'll be disappointed.
While you'd think that he'd have a lot in common with Sebastian because he's a successful lawyer and Sebastian comes from a family of at least some privilege, it's more because their backgrounds are so completely tense. Daniel's mom used drugs and Sebastian's father may or may not abuse his mom (things are said and Sebastian's dad is a complete asshole) and it's that feeling of constantly being on guard and needing to take care of their moms that bind them, even though obviously that's a conversation that's never said out loud.
Daniel's life leads him to be a very angry kid but as he grows up, he's able to hide that anger and to channel it into other things. Most people would probably think that it's gone completely, but there are definitely signs that it's still there.
As much as I loved the trial chapters, I was even more drawn into the ones of Daniel's childhood and the relationships he forms there.
Highly recommended.
While you'd think that he'd have a lot in common with Sebastian because he's a successful lawyer and Sebastian comes from a family of at least some privilege, it's more because their backgrounds are so completely tense. Daniel's mom used drugs and Sebastian's father may or may not abuse his mom (things are said and Sebastian's dad is a complete asshole) and it's that feeling of constantly being on guard and needing to take care of their moms that bind them, even though obviously that's a conversation that's never said out loud.
Daniel's life leads him to be a very angry kid but as he grows up, he's able to hide that anger and to channel it into other things. Most people would probably think that it's gone completely, but there are definitely signs that it's still there.
As much as I loved the trial chapters, I was even more drawn into the ones of Daniel's childhood and the relationships he forms there.
Highly recommended.
September 12, 2019
Daniel Hunter sorunlu bir çocukluk geçirmiş bir avukattır. Sekiz yaşında bir çocuk dövülerek öldürülünce cinayetle suçlanan onbir yaşındaki Sebastian’ı savunmak Daniel’a kalır. Sebastian’ı kendi çocukluğuna benzeten Daniel ona yardımcı olma konusunda kararlıdır.
Öncelikle kitabın akışı çok yavaştı. Yazar bu cinayetle ilgili yazacak bir şey bulamadıkça sanırım Daniel’in geçmişine odaklanmış. Ayrıntıları yazmış da yazmış. O kısımlar bana çok gereksiz geldi. Boğuldum. Daniel’in birçok koruyucu ebeveynin yanında çıkardığı sorunlar ve Minnie ile gelişen ilişkisi çok yavandı.
Sebastian’ın davası yavaş ilerliyor ve elbette sürpriz bir şekilde bitiyor. Soru şu: Suçlu mu?
Kitabın konusu ilgi çekici olsa da ilerleyişi insanı sıkıyor. Temposu düşük. Sonu çok şaşırtıcı değil. Vakit geçirmek için okunabilir. Ortalama altı, çerezlik bir kitap.
Öncelikle kitabın akışı çok yavaştı. Yazar bu cinayetle ilgili yazacak bir şey bulamadıkça sanırım Daniel’in geçmişine odaklanmış. Ayrıntıları yazmış da yazmış. O kısımlar bana çok gereksiz geldi. Boğuldum. Daniel’in birçok koruyucu ebeveynin yanında çıkardığı sorunlar ve Minnie ile gelişen ilişkisi çok yavandı.
Sebastian’ın davası yavaş ilerliyor ve elbette sürpriz bir şekilde bitiyor. Soru şu: Suçlu mu?
Kitabın konusu ilgi çekici olsa da ilerleyişi insanı sıkıyor. Temposu düşük. Sonu çok şaşırtıcı değil. Vakit geçirmek için okunabilir. Ortalama altı, çerezlik bir kitap.
December 23, 2012
By Lisa Ballantyne. Grade: C
A little boy was found dead in a children’s playground…Daniel Hunter has spent years defending lost causes as a solicitor in London. But his life changes when he is introduced to Sebastian, an eleven-year-old accused of murdering an innocent young boy. As he plunges into the muddy depths of Sebastian’s troubled home life, Daniel thinks back to his own childhood in foster care – and to Minnie, the woman whose love saved him, until she, too, betrayed him so badly that he cut her out of his life. But what crime did Minnie commit that made Daniel disregard her for fifteen years? And will Daniel’s identification with a child on trial for murder make him question everything he ever believed in?
This book starts out with the story of Sebastian. A child on trial. The book also shares with us Daniel’s story. The lawyer on trial. But he’s on a very different judgement stand than Sebastian. Daniel is on his own trial. He’s overcome with grief and resentment towards his foster parent Minnie for betraying him and now she’s dead. We don’t see these emotions playing a large part in the court case he has taken on though. What we do see is the understanding Daniel has of Sebastian’s predicament.
It seems both Daniel and Sebastian had mothers they had to take care of because the mothers couldn’t always take care of themselves. They both had rough spots they had to get over and they both had to deal with violence. But then Daniel is the lawyer and Sebastian is the kid. They are both individuals and the similarities have to end somewhere.
I didn’t find the book particular memorable. It’s something you may read to pass the time. A good airplane book maybe. The story progresses slowly and you may have to commit yourself to finishing it. This book isn’t filled with explosions and twists and turns. There is a small bit of anticipation but you may get bored before you see your anticipation fulfilled. I would say this though, it is not so easy to guess the end.
And maybe that’s what’s wrong with this book for me. The reading was so slow, so little information was given or hinted that I wasn’t really trying to make any guesses. The writing was slow and methodical. It was practiced and poised, not leading you on…just taking you there. Like a slow coach train.
In conclusion, there are other books I have enjoyed more. But you could enjoy this book. Possibly you would have to be someone who never saw a police drama on television in your life. Then you wouldn’t be used to the very creative writers who come up with very creative ways a crime can be committed and the reasons crimes are committed. On the other hand, sometimes bad deeds are just bad deeds and maybe that’s what this book was written for.
Originally reviewed at http://vaultofbooks.com/
A little boy was found dead in a children’s playground…Daniel Hunter has spent years defending lost causes as a solicitor in London. But his life changes when he is introduced to Sebastian, an eleven-year-old accused of murdering an innocent young boy. As he plunges into the muddy depths of Sebastian’s troubled home life, Daniel thinks back to his own childhood in foster care – and to Minnie, the woman whose love saved him, until she, too, betrayed him so badly that he cut her out of his life. But what crime did Minnie commit that made Daniel disregard her for fifteen years? And will Daniel’s identification with a child on trial for murder make him question everything he ever believed in?
This book starts out with the story of Sebastian. A child on trial. The book also shares with us Daniel’s story. The lawyer on trial. But he’s on a very different judgement stand than Sebastian. Daniel is on his own trial. He’s overcome with grief and resentment towards his foster parent Minnie for betraying him and now she’s dead. We don’t see these emotions playing a large part in the court case he has taken on though. What we do see is the understanding Daniel has of Sebastian’s predicament.
It seems both Daniel and Sebastian had mothers they had to take care of because the mothers couldn’t always take care of themselves. They both had rough spots they had to get over and they both had to deal with violence. But then Daniel is the lawyer and Sebastian is the kid. They are both individuals and the similarities have to end somewhere.
I didn’t find the book particular memorable. It’s something you may read to pass the time. A good airplane book maybe. The story progresses slowly and you may have to commit yourself to finishing it. This book isn’t filled with explosions and twists and turns. There is a small bit of anticipation but you may get bored before you see your anticipation fulfilled. I would say this though, it is not so easy to guess the end.
And maybe that’s what’s wrong with this book for me. The reading was so slow, so little information was given or hinted that I wasn’t really trying to make any guesses. The writing was slow and methodical. It was practiced and poised, not leading you on…just taking you there. Like a slow coach train.
In conclusion, there are other books I have enjoyed more. But you could enjoy this book. Possibly you would have to be someone who never saw a police drama on television in your life. Then you wouldn’t be used to the very creative writers who come up with very creative ways a crime can be committed and the reasons crimes are committed. On the other hand, sometimes bad deeds are just bad deeds and maybe that’s what this book was written for.
Originally reviewed at http://vaultofbooks.com/
December 20, 2012
By Lisa Ballantyne. Grade: C
A little boy was found dead in a children’s playground…Daniel Hunter has spent years defending lost causes as a solicitor in London. But his life changes when he is introduced to Sebastian, an eleven-year-old accused of murdering an innocent young boy. As he plunges into the muddy depths of Sebastian’s troubled home life, Daniel thinks back to his own childhood in foster care – and to Minnie, the woman whose love saved him, until she, too, betrayed him so badly that he cut her out of his life. But what crime did Minnie commit that made Daniel disregard her for fifteen years? And will Daniel’s identification with a child on trial for murder make him question everything he ever believed in?
This book starts out with the story of Sebastian. A child on trial. The book also shares with us Daniel’s story. The lawyer on trial. But he’s on a very different judgement stand than Sebastian. Daniel is on his own trial. He’s overcome with grief and resentment towards his foster parent Minnie for betraying him and now she’s dead. We don’t see these emotions playing a large part in the court case he has taken on though. What we do see is the understanding Daniel has of Sebastian’s predicament.
It seems both Daniel and Sebastian had mothers they had to take care of because the mothers couldn’t always take care of themselves. They both had rough spots they had to get over and they both had to deal with violence. But then Daniel is the lawyer and Sebastian is the kid. They are both individuals and the similarities have to end somewhere.
I didn’t find the book particular memorable. It’s something you may read to pass the time. A good airplane book maybe. The story progresses slowly and you may have to commit yourself to finishing it. This book isn’t filled with explosions and twists and turns. There is a small bit of anticipation but you may get bored before you see your anticipation fulfilled. I would say this though, it is not so easy to guess the end.
And maybe that’s what’s wrong with this book for me. The reading was so slow, so little information was given or hinted that I wasn’t really trying to make any guesses. The writing was slow and methodical. It was practiced and poised, not leading you on…just taking you there. Like a slow coach train.
In conclusion, there are other books I have enjoyed more. But you could enjoy this book. Possibly you would have to be someone who never saw a police drama on television in your life. Then you wouldn’t be used to the very creative writers who come up with very creative ways a crime can be committed and the reasons crimes are committed. On the other hand, sometimes bad deeds are just bad deeds and maybe that’s what this book was written for.
Originally reviewed at http://vaultofbooks.com/
A little boy was found dead in a children’s playground…Daniel Hunter has spent years defending lost causes as a solicitor in London. But his life changes when he is introduced to Sebastian, an eleven-year-old accused of murdering an innocent young boy. As he plunges into the muddy depths of Sebastian’s troubled home life, Daniel thinks back to his own childhood in foster care – and to Minnie, the woman whose love saved him, until she, too, betrayed him so badly that he cut her out of his life. But what crime did Minnie commit that made Daniel disregard her for fifteen years? And will Daniel’s identification with a child on trial for murder make him question everything he ever believed in?
This book starts out with the story of Sebastian. A child on trial. The book also shares with us Daniel’s story. The lawyer on trial. But he’s on a very different judgement stand than Sebastian. Daniel is on his own trial. He’s overcome with grief and resentment towards his foster parent Minnie for betraying him and now she’s dead. We don’t see these emotions playing a large part in the court case he has taken on though. What we do see is the understanding Daniel has of Sebastian’s predicament.
It seems both Daniel and Sebastian had mothers they had to take care of because the mothers couldn’t always take care of themselves. They both had rough spots they had to get over and they both had to deal with violence. But then Daniel is the lawyer and Sebastian is the kid. They are both individuals and the similarities have to end somewhere.
I didn’t find the book particular memorable. It’s something you may read to pass the time. A good airplane book maybe. The story progresses slowly and you may have to commit yourself to finishing it. This book isn’t filled with explosions and twists and turns. There is a small bit of anticipation but you may get bored before you see your anticipation fulfilled. I would say this though, it is not so easy to guess the end.
And maybe that’s what’s wrong with this book for me. The reading was so slow, so little information was given or hinted that I wasn’t really trying to make any guesses. The writing was slow and methodical. It was practiced and poised, not leading you on…just taking you there. Like a slow coach train.
In conclusion, there are other books I have enjoyed more. But you could enjoy this book. Possibly you would have to be someone who never saw a police drama on television in your life. Then you wouldn’t be used to the very creative writers who come up with very creative ways a crime can be committed and the reasons crimes are committed. On the other hand, sometimes bad deeds are just bad deeds and maybe that’s what this book was written for.
Originally reviewed at http://vaultofbooks.com/
June 30, 2018
I really, really enjoyed this book!
The narrative alternates between the main characters childhood and the present day, flowing easily between the two - sometimes I find this form of story telling confusing but in this case it was clear which perspective was which.
The story was exciting, and extremely well researched, Ballantynes referencing was excellent and concise.
Unusually with these kind of stories I enjoyed the beginning, the middle, and the end - although I had guessed what the ending might be by a third of the way through, it was executed in such a good way that it still left me reeling.
Highly recommended.
The narrative alternates between the main characters childhood and the present day, flowing easily between the two - sometimes I find this form of story telling confusing but in this case it was clear which perspective was which.
The story was exciting, and extremely well researched, Ballantynes referencing was excellent and concise.
Unusually with these kind of stories I enjoyed the beginning, the middle, and the end - although I had guessed what the ending might be by a third of the way through, it was executed in such a good way that it still left me reeling.
Highly recommended.
September 29, 2018
An ok read. I didn't feel super engaged with the story all of the time and I think court case scenes are not for me but I did like the way the story toggles between the lawyers past and his current case in the present.
May 14, 2017
רומן פשע פסיכולוגי מעולה, המגולל את סיפורו של דניאל הנטר, עורך דין פלילי המייצג את סבסטיאן בן ה- 11 החשוד ברצח חברו בן ה- 8 במשפט פלילי מתוקשר.
דניאל הוא בן לאב עלום שם ואם נרקומנית, אשר אומץ וגודל על ידי אשה בודדה ואוהבת, ולמד לתת בה אמון מלא, עד שגילה את הסוד שהסתירה מפניו.
הספר עובר מסיפור משפטו של סבסטיאן המבריק והמניפולטיבי אשר לא ידוע האם רצח או לא רצח באכזריות את חברו, לבין פלאשבקים מילדותו הקשה של דניאל, שמרתקים בעיניי יותר מסיפור המשפט.
הספר מרתק וכתוב היטב. הדמויות חזקות. אהבתי מאד את שני קווי העלילה. הסיבה היחידה לאובדן הכוכב הנוסף היא המועקה הגדולה שפשתה בי לקראת סוף הספר ועם סיומו.
האשם/ליסה בלנטיין
דניאל הוא בן לאב עלום שם ואם נרקומנית, אשר אומץ וגודל על ידי אשה בודדה ואוהבת, ולמד לתת בה אמון מלא, עד שגילה את הסוד שהסתירה מפניו.
הספר עובר מסיפור משפטו של סבסטיאן המבריק והמניפולטיבי אשר לא ידוע האם רצח או לא רצח באכזריות את חברו, לבין פלאשבקים מילדותו הקשה של דניאל, שמרתקים בעיניי יותר מסיפור המשפט.
הספר מרתק וכתוב היטב. הדמויות חזקות. אהבתי מאד את שני קווי העלילה. הסיבה היחידה לאובדן הכוכב הנוסף היא המועקה הגדולה שפשתה בי לקראת סוף הספר ועם סיומו.
האשם/ליסה בלנטיין
April 22, 2023
Nu stiu de ce, insa pe mine nu m-a impresionat absolut deloc aceasta carte, in ciuda recenziilor si notei bune de pe Goodreads.
Pe langa faptul ca subiectul si actiunea mi s-au parut cunoscute, am avut in permanenta impresia ca autoarea s-a pierdut in detalii inutile, lungind actiunea mult mai mult decat era cazul.
Daniel, un avocat experimentat in cazuri cu adolescenti, ajunge sa se ocupe de un caz delicat, in care un copil este gasit omorat, la un loc de joaca, suspectul fiind nimeni altul decat prietenul sau cel mai bun,Sebastian,care are un alibi de neclintit pentru momentul crimei.
Acest caz va scoate la iveala fantome si traume din trecutul lui Daniel.
Pe langa faptul ca subiectul si actiunea mi s-au parut cunoscute, am avut in permanenta impresia ca autoarea s-a pierdut in detalii inutile, lungind actiunea mult mai mult decat era cazul.
Daniel, un avocat experimentat in cazuri cu adolescenti, ajunge sa se ocupe de un caz delicat, in care un copil este gasit omorat, la un loc de joaca, suspectul fiind nimeni altul decat prietenul sau cel mai bun,Sebastian,care are un alibi de neclintit pentru momentul crimei.
Acest caz va scoate la iveala fantome si traume din trecutul lui Daniel.
October 30, 2017
Eight year old Ben is found brutally murdered in a playground, eleven year old Sebastian is charged with his murder; the main character, however, is Daniel, Sebastian's solicitor. Daniel had a troubled, often violent, childhood; his drug addict mother was unable to look after him so Daniel was often in care. Last in a long line of foster mothers was Minnie Flynn, who eventually adopted Daniel, and turned his life around. Some years later he had a violent argument with Minnie and refused to have any further contact with her.
Alternate chapters deal with Daniel's childhood, which I found the more interesting part of the story; there are some aspects, however, which just don't make sense. Daniel, bright and articulate, having gone to university hasn't developed the maturity to understand what happened with Minnie; it just doesn't make sense that he would behave in this way, nor does his violence towards her. Neither could I understand why he felt such an affinity with Sebastian; given that they come from such vastly different backgrounds. There are areas of this novel which haven't been, but should have been, explored: Sebastian's home life is skimmed over; the parents of the dead boy are hardly mentioned...in fact more time is given to dubious witnesses at the trial.
Some of the writing is clunky and burdened with a little too much detail on the wrong areas, and the description of a character's face being "shaped like a melon seed" had me laughing out loud, which I'm sure wasn't intended. Was it broad at the forehead with a pointy chin.....like an alien, or the other way round? Either way it's clumsy and makes for a lovely mental picture. Surely "heart-shaped" would have been better. I found the ending quite predictable but will say no more than that.
The hype on the cover of this book led me to believe (hope) that it would be so much more than it actually is....average.
Alternate chapters deal with Daniel's childhood, which I found the more interesting part of the story; there are some aspects, however, which just don't make sense. Daniel, bright and articulate, having gone to university hasn't developed the maturity to understand what happened with Minnie; it just doesn't make sense that he would behave in this way, nor does his violence towards her. Neither could I understand why he felt such an affinity with Sebastian; given that they come from such vastly different backgrounds. There are areas of this novel which haven't been, but should have been, explored: Sebastian's home life is skimmed over; the parents of the dead boy are hardly mentioned...in fact more time is given to dubious witnesses at the trial.
Some of the writing is clunky and burdened with a little too much detail on the wrong areas, and the description of a character's face being "shaped like a melon seed" had me laughing out loud, which I'm sure wasn't intended. Was it broad at the forehead with a pointy chin.....like an alien, or the other way round? Either way it's clumsy and makes for a lovely mental picture. Surely "heart-shaped" would have been better. I found the ending quite predictable but will say no more than that.
The hype on the cover of this book led me to believe (hope) that it would be so much more than it actually is....average.
April 25, 2013
Billed as a mystery, this is really a haunting and sad case study of two very damaged young boys. The protagonist, Daniel, is a solicitor assigned to defend eleven year Sebastian, a creepily precocious boy who has been accused of brutally murdering his much younger playmate Ben. The case comes at the same time that Daniel learns of the death of the kind and generous Minnie, the woman who basically saved his life so many years ago when she adopted him.
The novel is really more the story of Daniel and we learn, in expertly drawn detail, how he came to live with Minnie, sad, heartbroken, and very, very angry about the losses he had experienced in his young life. That he could easily have ended up in a situation similar to Sebastian is evident. And we learn that Minnie did whatever she felt was necessary to protect Danny, at the risk of losing him forever. How Daniel reacted to Minnie's misguided love, is tragic and heart wrenching. It takes the death of Minnie coupled with the insights he gains in working with Sebastian for Daniel to realize who the real guilty person is. And though we are anxious to learn the fate of Sebastian (is he or isn't he guilty?), we really care about Daniel.
Ballantyne is quite skilled at character development; some editing, however, particularly in the reminiscences of Daniel, would have helped move the plot along. But ultimately, this is a terrific read.
The novel is really more the story of Daniel and we learn, in expertly drawn detail, how he came to live with Minnie, sad, heartbroken, and very, very angry about the losses he had experienced in his young life. That he could easily have ended up in a situation similar to Sebastian is evident. And we learn that Minnie did whatever she felt was necessary to protect Danny, at the risk of losing him forever. How Daniel reacted to Minnie's misguided love, is tragic and heart wrenching. It takes the death of Minnie coupled with the insights he gains in working with Sebastian for Daniel to realize who the real guilty person is. And though we are anxious to learn the fate of Sebastian (is he or isn't he guilty?), we really care about Daniel.
Ballantyne is quite skilled at character development; some editing, however, particularly in the reminiscences of Daniel, would have helped move the plot along. But ultimately, this is a terrific read.
May 3, 2020
3.5*
Considero uma boa leitura porque teve o poder de me agarrar e gosto bastante quando isso acontece, no entanto, a sua estória não conseguiu superar as minhas elevadas expectativas...
Considero uma boa leitura porque teve o poder de me agarrar e gosto bastante quando isso acontece, no entanto, a sua estória não conseguiu superar as minhas elevadas expectativas...
July 30, 2013
I sure hated to come to the end of this book. It is not a thriller, it is not even a novel of suspense. It is really better than all that. It is a wonderful story with wonderfully developed characters. I fell in love with Minnie and ached for Daniel. Yes it is a story of a child killing a younger child, but that story is secondary to Daniel's story. Daniel is the solicitor defending Seb who is on trial for murder. Seb's story is interesting. However, it is Daniel's story that is most compelling. It is a wonderful novel, well written and beautifully told. I think that the readers who reviewed the book and rated it low were looking for a different read. One Goodreads reviewer opined that any reader who watches courtroom or crime dramas will be disappointed. I have logged in my share of hours with the Law and Order franchise and am a trial junkie and I loved the book. It is a wonderful read. It is a page turner! I could not put it down.
December 16, 2022
This book can be divided into three separe sections. There is the legal thriller in which Daniel Hunter represents 11 year old Sebastian, accused of murder. Then there is the story of Daniel Hunter while growing up in a foster home. Last, there is the underlying story of the unfairness of the legal juvenile system in England. The legal thriller reminded me of William Diehl’s “Primal Fear”, which was made into a movie with Richard Gere. I enjoyed this book as it has great characters and a predictable but intriguing plot. The story at times can be confusing as the flashbacks are a little abrupt.
April 5, 2021
I am not sure if I have ever cried so hard reading a book as I did near the end of this one. The Guilty One is a book I will be thinking about for a long time. It is a book about the power of words and how they shape our sense of self. It’s about how we, in some ways, can’t escape others’ expectations of us. It’s about loss, about motherhood, about family, about how hard it is to let go and what happens when we stubbornly hold on to something. Most of all, it is a book about the inescapability of our effect on one another and the compassion that comes from understanding the possibilities of life if things had gone another way.
August 27, 2015
All summer, I've been longing for a book that would draw me in completely and make me ignore my responsibilities to keep reading. Finally, I found it in THE GUILTY ONE. Let's get one thing straight: this is not a mystery/thriller even though it is being marketed as one. It's a well-written novel that happens to have a crime in it. Many of the negative reviews here focus on the fact that the resolution of the courtroom drama is predictable. True enough. If you're looking for a John Grisham/Gillian Flynn twist ending, this isn't your book. Don't get me wrong--I LOVE twist ending; I WRITE twist endings, but that's not what this book is about.
So, why did I love it? As a teacher and a parent, I'm fascinated by why some kids with horrible childhoods overcome their upbringing while others are crushed by it. Daniel Hunter has a heroin-addict mother whom he must protect from abusive men who attack him too. But when we meet him he's a successful lawyer in London. Why? Because he was saved by a loving foster mother, Minnie. What a character Minnie is! Funny, fearless, loving, Minnie is also tortured, guilty, and very flawed. The story of Daniel and Minnie's relationship forms one thread of the novel, and this thread is mesmerizing. Through many false starts and regressions and violent acts, Minnie gradually gains Daniel's trust. But then, in one act of betrayal, she loses it. What she does is not particularly surprising. What is fascinating is why she did it and why Daniel holds the grudge for so long. The novel never totally resolves that, so the questions linger after you're done reading.
Interwoven with Daniel's story is the tale of Sebastian, a 12 year old accused of murdering his 8 year old neighbor. Unlike Daniel, Seb is not poverty stricken, yet his family is just as troubled as Dan's. Daniel is both drawn to Seb and disturbed by him as he works on the boy's defense. The court case unfolds in fascinating detail as we learn both about legal strategy and about Seb's awful parents. When the two stories end, we're left to marvel at how utterly self-absorbed kids are--all kids--and how that inability to imagine others' lives can lead to disaster.
The novel does not wrap up all the loose ends neatly because, well, there are no solutions to problems like these. I did take issue with how abruptly Dan ends his responsibility to Seb. There are times when the author tries a little too hard to be literary, but for the most part, the novel is beautifully written.
THE GUILTY ONE leaves readers with plenty to think about: the bond between biological parents and children, the role that other loving adults play in helping kids thrive, the failures of the criminal justice system, and most of all the responsibilities we each have to one another to avoid being the guilty ones.
So, why did I love it? As a teacher and a parent, I'm fascinated by why some kids with horrible childhoods overcome their upbringing while others are crushed by it. Daniel Hunter has a heroin-addict mother whom he must protect from abusive men who attack him too. But when we meet him he's a successful lawyer in London. Why? Because he was saved by a loving foster mother, Minnie. What a character Minnie is! Funny, fearless, loving, Minnie is also tortured, guilty, and very flawed. The story of Daniel and Minnie's relationship forms one thread of the novel, and this thread is mesmerizing. Through many false starts and regressions and violent acts, Minnie gradually gains Daniel's trust. But then, in one act of betrayal, she loses it. What she does is not particularly surprising. What is fascinating is why she did it and why Daniel holds the grudge for so long. The novel never totally resolves that, so the questions linger after you're done reading.
Interwoven with Daniel's story is the tale of Sebastian, a 12 year old accused of murdering his 8 year old neighbor. Unlike Daniel, Seb is not poverty stricken, yet his family is just as troubled as Dan's. Daniel is both drawn to Seb and disturbed by him as he works on the boy's defense. The court case unfolds in fascinating detail as we learn both about legal strategy and about Seb's awful parents. When the two stories end, we're left to marvel at how utterly self-absorbed kids are--all kids--and how that inability to imagine others' lives can lead to disaster.
The novel does not wrap up all the loose ends neatly because, well, there are no solutions to problems like these. I did take issue with how abruptly Dan ends his responsibility to Seb. There are times when the author tries a little too hard to be literary, but for the most part, the novel is beautifully written.
THE GUILTY ONE leaves readers with plenty to think about: the bond between biological parents and children, the role that other loving adults play in helping kids thrive, the failures of the criminal justice system, and most of all the responsibilities we each have to one another to avoid being the guilty ones.
March 10, 2013
In The Guilty One, Lisa Ballantyne's debut novel, eleven-year-old Sebastian Croll is accused of killing an eight-year-old neighbor. Daniel Hunter is his assigned solicitor for the defense. While trying to defend Sebastian, Daniel reflects on his own very troubled childhood. The case coincides with the death of Minnie, the woman who was Daniel's foster parent and who later adopted him.
Daniel had cut off all contact with Minnie, but the trial and Minnie's death has made Daniel introspective - pondering his past actions while defending a present day troubled child. The chapters alternate between the uneasy and anxious present day defense and trial of Sebastian with the disturbed and resentful past of Daniel. As we slowly follow the progress of Sebastian's case we also learn more about Daniel's past until both storylines culminate in some uneasy revelations and insight. Minnie both betrayed and saved Daniel. Will the same be said about Sebastian, who is currently living in a very dysfunctional family.
Ballantyne expertly delves into this tense exploration of childhood violence and the root causes of its manifestation, and, ultimately, the potential power of forgiveness and redemption of love. We know the two mysteries right at the start: Sebastian may have killed a child and Daniel has been estranged for 15 years from his now deceased mother. What keeps you reading with breakneck anticipation is the slowly revealed facts about both mysteries. Daniel certainly had anger and rage inside him as a child and Minnie had the patience of a saint with him. Why was he estranged from her? Is Sebastian also filled with uncontrollable rage, or was it a stranger who killed 8 year old Benjamin?
I appreciated the alternating chapters and the unfolding of both stories. The writing is superb and the descriptions are atmospheric and very realistic. (Some descriptions are intense and could be disturbing for some readers.) All I can say is that I flew through this book and was very satisfied with the conclusion of both the story lines. Yes, I did cringe at times, and my heart broke at other points, but this was a thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery that I very highly recommend.
Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher and TLC for review purposes.
Daniel had cut off all contact with Minnie, but the trial and Minnie's death has made Daniel introspective - pondering his past actions while defending a present day troubled child. The chapters alternate between the uneasy and anxious present day defense and trial of Sebastian with the disturbed and resentful past of Daniel. As we slowly follow the progress of Sebastian's case we also learn more about Daniel's past until both storylines culminate in some uneasy revelations and insight. Minnie both betrayed and saved Daniel. Will the same be said about Sebastian, who is currently living in a very dysfunctional family.
Ballantyne expertly delves into this tense exploration of childhood violence and the root causes of its manifestation, and, ultimately, the potential power of forgiveness and redemption of love. We know the two mysteries right at the start: Sebastian may have killed a child and Daniel has been estranged for 15 years from his now deceased mother. What keeps you reading with breakneck anticipation is the slowly revealed facts about both mysteries. Daniel certainly had anger and rage inside him as a child and Minnie had the patience of a saint with him. Why was he estranged from her? Is Sebastian also filled with uncontrollable rage, or was it a stranger who killed 8 year old Benjamin?
I appreciated the alternating chapters and the unfolding of both stories. The writing is superb and the descriptions are atmospheric and very realistic. (Some descriptions are intense and could be disturbing for some readers.) All I can say is that I flew through this book and was very satisfied with the conclusion of both the story lines. Yes, I did cringe at times, and my heart broke at other points, but this was a thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery that I very highly recommend.
Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher and TLC for review purposes.
April 1, 2013
I didn't love this book. I barely liked it. It was definitely just OK. The story goes back and forth between Daniel Hunter as an adult and Daniel Hunter as a child/young man. As an adult he's the lawyer for a little boy accused of murdering another little boy. As a child he's in the foster care system because his mom has drug issues.
I was never sure if the "mystery" of the story was whether or not Sebastian murdered the other little boy or if it was trying to figure out why Daniel stopped talking to Minnie -- the woman who adopted him later.
The title makes it pretty clear that at least either Daniel or Sebastian is guilty of something. I was far more interested in the Sebastian story. But I felt like the author was more interested in this 35-year-old man that couldn't forgive the woman that raised him instead he chose to pine after a mother that chose drugs over him.
I was never sure if the "mystery" of the story was whether or not Sebastian murdered the other little boy or if it was trying to figure out why Daniel stopped talking to Minnie -- the woman who adopted him later.
The title makes it pretty clear that at least either Daniel or Sebastian is guilty of something. I was far more interested in the Sebastian story. But I felt like the author was more interested in this 35-year-old man that couldn't forgive the woman that raised him instead he chose to pine after a mother that chose drugs over him.
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